Power transmission



May 14, 1940. K. R. HERMAN 2.200.824

POWER TRANSMISSION Filed Dec. 16, 1 937 INVENTOR KENNETH R. HERMAN ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y rowan rasnsmssros Kenneth B. Herman, Huntington Woods, Mlcln,

aasignor to Vickers Incorporated, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,073

'1 Claims.

transmitting power between a pump and a fluid motor. The invention is particularly concerned with a valve for use in a power transmission system of this type although it will be understood that many of the advantages provided thereby may be beneficially utilized for other purposes than fluid power transmission systems. An object of the present invention is to provide a multiple valve comprised of plurality 01' body parts which'may be assembled together in diil'erent relationships to-provide different valve characteristics as may be required in various installations.

A further object is to provide a valve which is simple and .economical to manufacture and a reliable in operation throughout a long useful life.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the follow-- ing description, reference being had to the ac- 9,5 companying drawing wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section of a valve embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2'-2 .of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the valve.

Figures 4, Sand 6 are views corresponding to Figure 1 showing the parts assembled in diflerent positions. I

p The valve illustrated in the drawing comprises a main body member ID, having a. central longitudinal bore l2 extending through to the opposite end faces II and I6 of the body member l0.

' The bore I2 'is provided with enlarged portions l8 and 20 forming a pair of ports, communication between which may be opened orclosed by a reciprocable valve spool 22. The valve spool 22 has a pair of piston heads 24 and 26 which are freely slidable with a substantially fluid tight fit in bore I2 and is also provided with a projection 28 on its lower end. The port 20 is provided with a pair of inlet connections 80, one or both of which may be connected with an oil conduit for supplying oil to the valve. Port II is provided with an outlet connection 32 for connection to a conduit to which the supply of oil is controlled by valve spool 22. The body ill includes a pair of auxiliary passages 34 and 88 extending from the ports 32 and 30 respectively to the end faces H and I6 respectively.

Secured to theend H by bolts 38 is an end cap 40 within which is threaded an adjusting screw 42. A spring 44 is mounted in a recess 8 46 of the screw 42 and a recess 48 formed in the valve spool 22. n chamber 50 in the end cap 40 is in commlmicatlon' with the end of the bore l2, for delivering and exhausting oil from the bore l2 as the spool 22 nioves therein. A bore 52 10 extends through the lower end of the spool 22. for connecting the spaces at opposite ends of spool 22. Leading from the chamber 50 is a passage 54 having an auxiliary branch passage 56 which opens to the end face H of the body l6 Ill. The end cap lll also carries a suitable lock nut 58 and closure cap 80, both secured on the screw 42.

Mounted on the'end face l6 of the body Ill is a second end cap member 62 which is secured 20 thereto by bolts 64. The end cap 62 is provided with a cylinder or chamber 66 in which an. auxi1- iary piston 88 is reciprocably mounted for lift-, ing the valve spool 22 by a fluid pressure exerted on the bottom of the piston 68 in opposition to the force of spring 44. The chamber 66 connects with a passage 10, having an auxiliary branch passage 12 extending to the end face l8 oi body Ill. The passages II and 10 are provided with external conduit connections at 14 30 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, are plugged.

The end caps 40 and 62 are adapted to be secured to the body H) in any of several angularly spaced positions. In the example illustrated in the drawing there are four such positions. In 85 the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the

' end cap 40 is so mounted that the auxiliary passage 58 is in registration with the auxiliary passage 84 in the body III, while the auxiliary passage 1'2 is likewise in registration with the 40 auxiliary passage 38 in the body l0. When either end cap is removed and reassembled in any one 01' the threeother possible positions, the corresponding auxiliary passages, both in the end cap and in the body member are blocked. Under these conditions either or both of the plugs at 14 and 18 may be removed providing an external connection to the chambers 50 and 86 respectively.

Three other possible assembling combinations 50 are illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6. In Figure 4 the end cap 40 has been turned to 90 from the position of Figure 1 while the end cap 62 remains as shown in Figure i. In this position the chamber 50 is not connected to the port 32 and 55 the plug at 14 is removed to provide an external drain cormection to the chamber 50. The valve actuating chamber 66 is connected to port 20 and the plug at 16 remains in position. In the position shown in Figure 5 the end cap 40 is the same as in Figure 4 while-the end cap 62 has been turned 180 to block both the auxiliary passages 36 and 12. In this position the plug at 16 may be removed to provide an external connection for pressure fluid for operating the piston 68 to open the valve. In Figure 6 the end cap 62 is the same as in Figure 5 while the end cap 40 is the same as in Figure 1. Under these conditions the chamber 50 is drained to the port [8 while the valve actuating chamber 66 remains connected for external operation.

When the valve is assembled, either as shown in Figure 1 or 4, it will be seen that the pressure existing in the port 20 and the setting of the spring, will determine the point at which the valve spool .22 is raised to open communication from port 2tto l8a. Thus, so long as the pressure in port 20 is below the value at which its force exerted over the area vof the piston 68 is equal to the downward force of the spring 44, the spool 22 remains in the same position shown. Whenever this pressure is exceeded in port 20. piston 68 moves upwards overcoming the force of spring 44 and opening the valve to permit discharge of oil from the port 20 to the port I 8.

In operation of the valve with the parts assembled as in Figures 1 thru 3. thesame may be utilized as a conventional pressure relief valve for by-passing oil from the high pressure conduit connection 30 to a lower pressure or tank conduit connection 32. Whenever pressure in the high pressure conduit and port 20 rises above the value for which the spring 44 is set, valve spool 22 rises, permitting whatever oil to pass to the port l8 that may be required to cause the pressure in port 20 to again fall below the setting of the spring 44. When the valve is used for this purpose, since the port I8 is normally connected to a low pressure or tank conduit, the drain chamber 50 is drained to the port l8, thus avoiding the necessity of external piping topermit breathing" of oil to and from the end chambers of the valve bore It.

When the parts are assembled in the position shown in Figure 4, the valve may be used as a sequence valve to hold oil in the port 20 until a predetermined pressur' is built up and then bypassing oil to port l8 thereafter. Such, a valve is useful where it is desired to operate a pair of fluid motors in sequence, the first motor being supplied with oil from the port 20 and the second motor being supplied with oil from the port' l8. The spring 44 will be set so that the valve stays closed at the normal operating pressure of the first motor and only opens when the latter becomes stalled at the end of its stroke. Thereafter oil will by-pass through port H for operating the second motor. Since the port I! is, under these conditions, not connected to a low pressure tank line, it is necessary to provide an external drain at 14 to the chamber 50.

With the parts assembled in the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 the valve may be utilized as a pilot operated remote control valve which opens to connect ports l8 and 20, whenever fluid pressure is admitted to the chamber 66 through the external connection made at 16. If the port I8 is not connected to the low pressure side an external drain may be provided at 14 with the ports assembled as shown in- Figure 5. If port '8 is connected to the low pressure side the chamber 50 may be drained internally as shown in Figure 6. While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at axially spaced points therein, a valve spool slidable in the boreto control connections between said portsr'an auxiliary passage communicating "with one of said ports and extending to an end of said body,an end cap member adapted to be fixedly attached to said end of the body member in at least two differ- ,ent positions, means forming a fluid chamber in said end member, an auxiliary passage in said end member extending to the end of the body member and communicating with the chamber, said auxiliary passages being positioned for registration in one position of the end member and for non-registration in another position of the end member and means in one of said members affording external connection to the auxiliary passage in the end member independently of said one port when the passages are in nonregistration.

2. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at 'axially spaced points therein, a valve spool slidable in the bore to control connections between said ports, an end cap member adapted to be fixedly attached to the body member in at least two different positions, means forming a fluid chamber in said end member, and means for connecting said chamber to one of said ports when the end member is in one position and for blocking communication therebetween when the end member is in another position. and means providing an external connection to said chamber independently of said one port when the end member is in said other position.

3. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at axially spaced points therein, an end cap member adapted to be mounted on the body member in at least two different positionsfa second end cap member also adapted to be mounted on the body member in at least two difl'erent positions, means forming a fluid chamber in each of said end members. means for connecting one of said chambers to one of said ports when the corresponding end member is in one position and for blocking communication therebetween when the end member 'is in another position, means for connecting the other chamber to the other port when the corresponding end member is in one position and for blocking com-.

at least two different positions, a second end cap member also adapted to be mounted on the body member in at least two different positions, means forming a fluid chamber in each of said end members, one of said chambers receiving and delivering fluid when said valve member is moved, a piston for operating said valve member and in communication with the other chamber, means for connecting one of said chambers to one of said ports when the corresponding end member is in one position and for blocking communication therebetween when the end member is in another position, means for connecting the other chamber to the other port when the corresponding end member is in one position and for blocking communication therebetween when the end member is in the other position, and means providing external connection to each of said chambers ing end member is in said other position.

5. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at axially spaced points therein, a valve spool slidable in the bore to control connections between said ports, an end member adapted to close the end of the bore and to define therewith an end chamber in which idle fluid is displaced during shifting of the valve member, means forming a passageway in the body member and in the end member to connect the end chamber with one of the ports, said passageway having a. branch portion forming an external connection, and means for attaching the end member to the body selectively in a plurality of positions whereby the end chamber may be arranged for draining either to'said one port or to an external drain line.

6. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at axially spaced points therein, a valve spool slidable in the bore to control connections between said ports, an end member adapted to close the end of the bore and to define therewith an end chamber for admission of pressure fluid to shift the valve member, means forming a passageway in the body member and in the end member to connect the end chamber with one of the ports, said passageway having a branch portion forming an external connection, and means for attaching the end member to the body selectively in a plurality of positions whereby the end chamber may be connected for shifting of the valve member either by fluid from said one port or by fluid from an external line.

7. A valve for controlling fluid flow comprising a main body member having a central longitudinal bore, lateral ports communicating with said bore at axially spaced points therein, a valve spool slidable in the bore to control connections between said ports, a pair of end members, one adapted to close each end of the bore and to define therewith one end chamber in which idle fluid is displaced during shifting of the valve member and a second end chamber for admission of pressure fluid to shift the valve member, means forming a pluralityof passageways in the body member and in the end members to connect each end chamber with a separate one of said ports, said passageways having a branch portion forming external connections, and means for attaching each end member to the body in a plurality of positions whereby each end chamber may be selectively connected either with one of said ports or with an external line.

. V KENNETH R. HERMAN. 

